UChicago cardiologist's Parasol raises $2.75M pre-seed for implant-free stroke device
What's the deal? Parasol Med TechDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has closed an oversubscribed $2.75 million pre-seed round to advance a left atrial appendage closure system built on research from the University of Chicago. Harper Court VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, UCM Ventures, and Cardiovascular Innovation Ventures took part.
What's the endgame? Parasol is developing a catheter-and-gel system to seal the left atrial appendage and prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib). The condition affects nearly 5% of US adults and raises stroke risk five-fold. The company says proceeds will fund R&D to test and optimise the device.
Why it stands out: Unlike established closure devices, Parasol's approach aims to leave no permanent metal implant behind. "The device should conform to the patient's anatomy, not the other way around," said founder and chief medical officer Atman Shah, an interventional cardiologist and professor at the University of Chicago who has closed more than 1,000 appendages.
Who's backing it? UCM Ventures is the venture arm of the University of Chicago Medical Center, while Cardiovascular Innovation Ventures is backed by the American College of CardiologyDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. "Parasol has the potential for enormous impact," said Hannah Levine, executive director of UCM Ventures, citing millions of untreated AFib cases.
Why now? The idea traces back to work with the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, where Shah built a CAD model and won a proof-of-concept grant. He went through the center's I-Corps program in 2024 before the company launched its commercial push.
What could go wrong? Parasol's device is investigational and has not been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration. It will need to prove safety, durable sealing, and clinical benefit against entrenched rivals.
The signal: Appendage closure is gaining validation. In March, Boston Scientific reported its 3,000-patient CHAMPION-AF trial found its WATCHMAN FLX device non-inferior to blood thinners on efficacy and superior on bleeding safety over 36 months. That strengthens the category — and raises the bar for an early-stage newcomer still years from patients.
Read more: polsky.uchicago.edu
Image credit: Parasol Med Tech
